Refrigerator with plural refrigerated compartments



June 3, 1958 E. A. FERRIS 2,836,968

REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL. REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS Filed Oct. 6, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 1 1605 477'0ENE 9 E. A. FERRIS June 3, 1958 REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL. REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6. 1954 IN VEN TOR. [014/420 4 FZEPP/J wa M #0 147'7'0PA/EV June 3, 1958 E. A. FERRIS 2,336,953

REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS 7 Filed Oct. 6. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ji 7Q INVEN TOR. 5011/6460 4 fZ-EF/J f QM June 3, 1958 E. A FERRIS REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS E 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 6, 1954 501M480 4 5522/; M410 M 14/5 WaP/MQ E. A. FERRIS June 3, 1958 REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 6, 1954 m wm & Bb

.ufiay m f mi am h 4 J WW June 3, 1958 E. A. FERRIS 2,836,968

REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS Filed Oct. 6, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 F/& 7

I N VEN TOR. [014/458 4 FfEP/J June 3, 1958 FERRls 2,836,968

REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS Filed Oct. 6, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 N 3 v Q N a fl a o N k E Q is QR I W E & '1

IN V EN TOR. 7 150144430 ,4. FZ'ZFA *Wa M E. A. FERRIS June 3, 1958 REFRIGERATOR WITH FLURAL REFRIGERATED COMPARTMENTS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 6, 1954 2 m m4 .7 p 4 2 United States Patent Q REFRIGERATOR WITH PLURAL REFRPGERATED COMPARTMENTS Edward A. Ferris, Utica, N. Y.

Application October 6, 1954, Serial No. 468,629

7 Claims. (Cl. 62-1175) This invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to a novel refrigerator particularly adapted in style and form to match the base cabinets of a custom kitchen installation in a home, restaurant or the like.

Generally heretofore home type kitchen refrigerators have been of the upright type with the door opening on one side. This takes up considerable cubic feet of space requiring large clearances and eliminates any possibility of any work space in the area occupied by the refrigerator. Today in the home market where housing in general and kitchens in particular have become smaller and smaller every square foot of floor and work space becomes extremely important. According to the present invention I have provided a refrigerator for home kitchen use that utilizes much more efficiently than conventional refrigerators the space alloted thereto while blending smoothly with the other kitchen. cabinets and appliances in .the kitchen to provide a pleasing and efficient kitchen arrangement, all in a new and improved manner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator of the chest type which will form an integral part of custom kitchen cabinets and which can be provided with the same exterior including finish and top surface to match and fit homogeneously into custom kitchen cabinet installations. it is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which will provide a greater shelf area for the cubic content thereof than available in present refrigerators. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which is more economical to run and which displays the foods stored therein in a more convenient and acceptable manner. it is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having greater storage space both in the 1 igcrator compartment andin the freezer compartment per unit of floor space than heretofore available. It is a further objectof the present invention to provide a refrigerator that avoids .tl'teloss of cold on the opening thereof for accessto foods stored therein. it is a further object of the present invention to provide a kitchen refrigerator in which all compartments may be opened and closed automatically to permit ready access thereto. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator of increased capacity, economy and flexibility that may be opened and closed without the necessity of manualoperation of the doors thereof. These and other and further objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out as-the specification proceeds:

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the overall refrigerator according to the present invention showing the vegetable crisper compartment and the freezer compartment drawers partially opened and one of the top lids opened.

Figure 2 is a partially broken away perspective view showing the detail construction of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

ice

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system utilized in the refrigerator of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another embozliment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on line VlIVll of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view on line VIIIVIII of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view on line IXlX of Figure 6, showing the automatic opening mechanism for the drawers of the refrigerator shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional View on line XX of Figure 6 showing the opening mechanism for the lids of Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the operating system of the automatic opening mechanism for the drawers and lids of the refrigerator of Figure 6.

Referring to Figure l the refrigerator 2%) comprises a generally rectangular box or cabinet portion 22 open at the top and having positioned adjacent the bottom thereof a vegetable drawer 24 and freezer drawer 26. Positioned in the open top of the box 22 are three foldable lids 28, 28a and 2% which are hinged along the back edge 30 of the box 22. As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4 box 22 has a basic frame portion 32 upon which may be mounted end covers 33 and panels 34 of wood, Formica, or other covering to match the particular outer surface desired in the kitchen cabinet installation of which the refrigerator is to be a part. Lids 23, 28a, and 28b, are similarly constructed with panels of good, Formica or other appropriate covering such that the refrigerator will form an integral part of the kitchen cabinet installation.

Carried within the frame portion 32 is a layer of an insulating material 36 which may be of cork, glass wool or the like and an inner liner 38 of stainless steel or the like. Mounted on the outer surface of liner 38 and inside insulation 36 are refrigerating coils .0 and 42 forming the cold wall refrigeration as will be described in detail herein.

The refrigerator box portion 22 is divided approximately longitudinally to form an upper compartment 44 which is the normal food storage compartment of the refrigerator according to the present invention. The lower area is in turn divided approximately in half to form a vegetable crisper storage area 46 and a freezing compartment area .8. These compartments are formed by an L- shaped insulated partition 50 which extends along the top and interior end of freezer compartment 48 and a thin noninsulated partition 51 which separates the vegetable compartment 46 from the main compartment 44. Fartition 51 may be of a plastic or glass material and is preferably translucent. The Walls of compartment 48, including partition 50, are more heavily insulated (see Figures 3 and 4) than the other walls of boX 22 to permit compartment 48 to be maintained at the desired freezing temperature. Vegetable compartment 46 is cooled by the coil 46 at the back and one side (see Figures 2 and 4) and by conduction through non-insulated partition 51, this being sufficient to maintain the compartment at the desired crisper temperature.

Upper compartment 44 has positioned therein a pair of horizontal tracks and 72 which carry thereon a slidable shelf 74 which may be moved longitudinally within compartment 44 to permit ready access to the articles stored on partitions 50 and 51 without the necessity of removing the articles stored on the shelf itself. Shelf 74 advantageously is of a width of from one-third to one-half the length of compartment 44. Freezer compartment 48 has slidably positioned therein drawer 52 which carries the thicker insulation and a finished panel 340 on the door front. Compartment 48 also carries 3 2,836,968 H v U a 59 therein (see Figure 3) one or more ice trays 49 which are slidably mounted in racks 51 mounted on the under surface of the top of comparement 48. This keeps the ice trays out of the freezer drawer providing storage space for frozen foods or the like. Drawer 52 is mounted on roller bearings 54 in tracks 56 which permits easy movement even when fully loaded.

As may be seen in Figure 4 vegetable compartment 46 has mounted therein crisper drawer 58 in a manner similar to that of drawer 52. With this arrangement and construction there is provided greatly increased shelf and storage space per cubic content and kitchen space occupied over conventional type refrigerators. For example: With a six foot unit according to the present invention approximately 12 square feet of floor space would be occupied and approximately 18 square feet of shelf'space in compartment 44 and square feet in compartments 46 and 48 is provided for a total of 23 square feet of shelf space. A conventional type refrigerator of the same cubic content would occupy approximately 8 square feet of floor space but provide only 8 square feet of shelf space including freezer and vegetable compartments. Thus according to the present invention available shelf space per floor space or cubic content is almost doubled.

Drawers 52 and 58 are opened by applying pressure to foot pedals 60 and 62 respectively which release the drawer by means of a conventional mechanism which is not shown for the sake of simplicity.

As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4 the box 22 is completely insulated on the sides, bottom and ends and is mounted on legs 64 to provide a toe space 66 at the front edge of the cabinet to permit. the housewife to comfortably stand in front of the refrigerator when 4 of refrigerant from returning to the compressor 80 and causing damage thereto. As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4 the evaporator coiL 40 is mounted on liner 38 throughout the entire back wall, both end walls and the upper portion of the front wall of box 22. This provides the cooling for the normal food storage compartand condenser 82 through quick disconnecting couplings cold is greatly reduced whenever the lids'or drawers are opened. Since cold air flows downward the present construction of the drawers even when the drawers are open, prevents this movement and consequent loss for all practical purposes. Thus the lids may be left open while stowing or removing food, without loss of cold and consequent running of the refrigerator unit. A substantial improvement in the life of the refrigerator unit is thus obtained over conventional type refrigerators in addition to the increased storage space outlined above. Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, there is provided at the junctionof lids 28 and 28a and 28b supporting or guiding rails 76 and 78 upon which the front edge of the lids may ride to prevent their dropping down and catching on the front edge of compartment 44. Also the lids are made much thinner than the rest of the walls which makes them lighter and easier to handle than the conventional type refrigerator.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown in schematic diagram form the refrigerating system utilized in the present invention. Thisis essentially a conventional refrigerating system having a pump or compressor 80 which compresses the gaseous refrigerant and sends it along to the condenser 82 where it is liquified in the usual manner. The liquified refrigerant then passes through expansion valve 84 to wexaporator section 40 which is positioned about compartment 44 to cool it to the neighborhood of 32 degrees'Fahrenheit. The refrigerant then passes through expansion valve 86 to the freezer exaporator section 42 to give the desired freezing temperature of approximately zerodegrees Fahrenheit. A conventional header 88 is provided to prevent a slug 41 and 43 to the appropriate connection within the refrigerated box. This provides a greater storage space for the food in the refrigerator cabinet for a given floor area or cubic content in the kitchen where space is often ata premium.

Referring now to Figure 6'there is shown another embodiment of the present invention in which another form of shelf is provided andin which the refrigerating system of Figure 5 is self contained, in the box 22' and automatic controls for opening the drawers 52' and 58" and foroperating the lids 28, 28a and 281;! are provided. As may be seen in Figures 7 and 8 shelf 90 is positioned somewhat above the mid-point of the rear wall of the upper compartment 44' and is'hinged thereto so it may be folded flat against the rear wall thereof when it is not desired to utilize the extra shelf space. Shelf 90 advantageously has a width of from onethird to one-half the width of compartment 44' and is made in several sections so that individual portions may be raised and lowered as desired to suit the particular requirements of the kitchen. This shelf construction permits complete access throughout the length of the refrigerator in the forward portion of the upper compartment 44' and provides a maximum additional shelf space. at a minimum interference with access to the article stored on the bottom of the compartment 44'.

Referring now to Figure 9 the automatic drawer operating mechanism comprises a U-shaped frame member 92 mounted on the frame of box 22 at double cross arm 94. Legs 96 of frame 92 are pivotally joined to arm 94 at one end at 98 and at the other end to cross arms 100 and 102. Cross arms 100 and 102 ,are slidably pivoted together at 105 and have the other ends pivotally fastened to drawer 58". Hydraulic. cylinder 104, which is fed by line 106, is pivotally connected at each end thereof to arms 102 and 94. Mounted between arm 94 and arm 100 is tension spring 108.

In the closed position of drawer-58' the cylinder 104 and spring 108 are in the retracted position. When fluid is admitted into cylinder 104 piston rod 110 is forced outwardly causing arms 100 and 102 to slide relative to each other at 104, spread legs 96 and move drawer 58' to the open position against. the action of spring 108. In the open position the ends 101 and 103 of, arms 100 and 102 are extended beyond the end of legs 96 to substantially the reverse position of that shown in Figure 9. Upon removal of hydraulic pressure on cylinder 104 the open drawer is closed by spring 108 forcing the hydraulic fluid in cylinder 104 through a bleeder valve to permit easy but positive clos'ureof drawer 58'. A similar operating mechanism is provided for drawer 52', see Figure 6. r

Figure 10 shows the automatic operating mechanism for lid 2812' which comprises lever 112 fixed to the back half of lid 28b and connected at the other endzto a.

hydraulic cylinder 114bwhich is pivotally mountedon bracket 118 on the frame of box '22 at the other end.

A compression spring 120 is connected between bracket 118 and lever 112 to urge drawer 28 to the closed position shown in dotted lines.

In operation hydraulic pressure is .normally withheld from piston 114 and lid 28b is held in the closed position by compression spring 120. When it is desired to open lid 28b push button 130 is actuated which turns on pump 140 and opens the normally closed valve 144b at the top of cylinder 114b so that hydraulic fluid may enter therein and retract piston rod 122 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10. As may be seen this pivots the top 28b about the hinge 124 into the open position shown in dotted lines in .Figure 10. Pump 140 continues to operate as long as the push button is in the open position and pressure is maintained to hold the lid open in both the open and neutral positions. When it is desired to close the lid push button 130 is moved to the close position which opens valve 144b but does not actuate pump. 140 permitting spring 120 to close lid 28b by causing the fluid in cylinder 114 to return to the reservoir.

Referring now to Figure 11 there is shown in schematic diagram form the control system for the operation of the lids 28', 28a, and 28b and the-drawers 46' and 48'. The drawers and lids are actuated as described above by the hydraulic cylinders 104, 104a and 114, 114a and 1141) respectively, each of which is connected by line 136 to a common source'of hydraulic fluid 138 which includes a reservoir pump 140 driven by motor 142 to maintain the necessary pressure to actuate the opening and closing operations. At the hydraulic cylinders there are provided normally closed solenoid valves 144 through 144d to control the flow of fluid thereto, which solenoids are electrically connected through push buttons 126, 134 and lead 135 to a source of power not shown. The push buttons are positioned at a convenient point on the splash rail 68 or other position of outer box or cabinet 22 as shown in Figure 6. Each push button controls a valve on its respective cylinder from the normally closed to the open position as it is actuated from its normal central position to either its open or closed position. Also each push button turns on motor 142 through the common lead 134 shown in Figure 11 when moved to the open position. Thus operation of push button 130 activates solenoid 144b and causes the fluid pressure from the common source 138 to be applied to the upper end (Figure of cylinder 11,417 which retracts rod 122 to open lid 28b. Return of the push button 130 to the neutral position turns off motor 140 and deactivates solenoid 1441) holding lid 28b in the open position. Actuation of push button 130 to the close position opens solenoid 2144b without activating pump 140 thus permitting the fluid therein to flow back to the reservoir under the influence of the spring 120 which closes lid 28b. Similarly the lids 28' and 28a, may be individually opened to permit access to compartment 44 and in like manner drawers 52 and 58' may be opened. The foregoing detailed operation of the hydraulic system is not claimed to be new per se but is included merely for the sake of clarity of operation of the overall device.

There is thus provided a novel type refrigerator unit of a new and different design and construction that permits a maximum utilization of space in a kitchen while matching the custom design of the particular kitchen cabinet arrangement all in a new manner that provides a pleasing and more economical and practical kitchen layout for modern cooking and housekeeping convenience.

While there are given above certain specific examples of this invention and their applications in practical use, it should be understood that this is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting of the invention. On the contrary, these illustrations and explanations herein are given in order to acquaint others skilled in the art with this invention and the principles thereof and a suitable 6 manner of its application in practicaluse, so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to modify the invention and to adapt and apply it in numerous forms each as may be best suited to the requirement of a particular use.

I claim:

1. A refrigerator as described in claim 7 wherein said first compartment, above said partition and said second compartment, comprises about two-thirds of said frame portion and has positioned therein approximately midway between the bottom thereof and said lids a pair of tracks and a movable shelf, mounted for movement along said tracks; said shelf having a longitudinal dimension of approximately one-third the length of said frame portion whereby for a given cubic content, shelf area is greatly increased over conventional type refrigerators.

2. A base kitchen cabinet refrigerator comprising in combination a generally rectangular outer box portion having insulated walls and an open top, partition means mounted within said outer box portion to divide it.into upper and lower compartments, a shelf member mounted in said upper compartment, said shelf member having a cross-sectional area of approximately one-half the crosssectional area of said upper compartment, a plurality of folding lids hinged along one edge of the open top of said box portion adapted to be raised and lowered to open and close said upper compartment, a pair of drawers positioned in said lower compartment adapted to be withdrawn therefrom for access to the contents thereof, one of said drawers being surrounded by extra heavily insulated wall members to form a freezer portion for said refrigerator, said other drawer having insulated side and bottom wall members thereabout and an uninsulated partition separating it from said upper compartment to form a vegetable crisper portion for said refrigerator, and refrigeration means for maintaining said upper compartment at a food preserving temperature and said freezer drawer at a food freezing temperature.

3. A device as described in claim 2 including means for automatically opening and closing said lids, and means for automatically opening and closing said drawers, said means comprising hydraulic cylinder member operatively connected to each lid and drawer to be opened, an hydraulic fluid reservoir connected to said cylinders, a solenoid operatively connected to each of said cylinders to control the flow of fluid thereto, and control means for actuating said solenoids to open and close said lids and drawers.

4-. A chest type refrigerator adapted to be installed in a custom kitchen cabinet installation comprising in combination a basic outer box like frame portion open at the top and carrying in the wall portions thereof insulating material, a plurality of brackets and mounting holes on said frame portion for mounting on the outer surface thereof panels of wood, plastic or the like corresponding to the finish of the companion kitchen cabinets, a plurality of cold wall refrigerating panels mounted on the inner wall surface of said frame portion, a horizontal partition positioned within said frame portion to divide it into upper and lower compartments, approximately one half of said horizontal partition being insulated and the other half being uninsulated and of a translucent material, a vertical insulated partition positioned in said lower compartment to cooperate with said insulated horizontal portion to form a freezer space in said lower compartment, a plurality of cold wall refrigerating panels positioned along the inner surface of said freezer space, a first drawer slidably mounted in said freezer space, a second drawer slidably mounted in the other portion of said lower compartment, a plurality of folding lids hinged along one edge of the top of said frame portion to selectively close said box, means for mounting panels of Wood, plastic and the like on the outer surface of said lids whereby in the closed position they form a continuation of the counter tops of the companion kitchen cabinet, and means for connecting said cold wall refrigerating panels to refrigerating means refrigerating panels, said insulating and refrigerating panels being positioned about one of said drawers to form a freezing compartment, and about'said upper compartment to form a refrigerator portion, a movable shelf member in said upper compartment, at least one lid member hinged along one edge of said box portion and means for automatically opening and closing said lid member and said drawers.

6. A device as described in claim 5 wherein said means for automatically opening and closing said lid and drawers comprises a hydraulic cylinder operatively associated with each lid and drawer to be opened, a central source of hydraulic fluid pressure, and control means for selectively actuating the desired cylinder.

7. A custom kitchen cabinet refrigerator of the character described comprising a low, substantially fiat top oblong frame portion having insulated bottom and side walls and open top; a plurality of refrigerated compartments disposed in said frame portion including a first compartment accessible through said open top, a second compartment separated from said first by a non-insulated solid partition and a third compartment separated from said first and second by thickly insulated partitions; said second and third compartments opening on the side of said frame portion and having a drawer'with.substantially solid sides and bottomfdisposed therein; said first compartment extending across the entire length and width of the top of said frame portion; at leastone movable shelf slidably mounted in said first compartment, said shelf having a surface area of approximately one-half the cross-sectional area of said first compartment; :a refrigerating system having a first evaporator sectionpositioned about said first compartment and a second evaporator section positioned about said third -compartment whereby difierent temperatures may be'maintained in each compartment; and lcontrol means for regulating said refrigerating system. l

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,255,328 Mitchell Feb.*5, 1918 1,337,696 Ewen Apr. 20, 1920 2,125,444 Holderle Aug. 2, 1938 2,425,505 Benson an Aug. 12, 1947 2,446,322 Benson Aug.3, 1948 2,490,494 Widman Dec. '6, 1949 2,613,123 Patten Oct.- 7, 1952 2,618,936

Kennedy Nov. 25 1952 

